Members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, alongside leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have publicly accused the state government of intentionally fomenting tensions over the administration of local government areas. Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Friday, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, speaking on behalf of the party, claimed that the government had misrepresented a recent Federal High Court ruling in a way that could provoke public unrest.
Ogunsola explained that the lawsuit, initiated by reinstated APC chairmen and councillors on September 12, 2025, aimed to clarify the start date of their tenure under Osun State laws. He noted that the court dismissed the case on June 15, 2026. According to him, the dismissal does not equate to an endorsement of the local government elections allegedly held on February 22, 2025, as the state government and its allies have been asserting. He stated, “The dismissal of the suit does not validate the so-called election results. Yet, the state government and its supporters immediately took to the streets, instigating unnecessary crises by claiming that the court ruling legitimizes the sham election.”
The APC leaders also criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke’s call for police protection for individuals he considers elected council officials, describing the move as embarrassing and a threat to public order. Ogunsola revealed that the Federal High Court judgment is under appeal, with a stay of execution application filed on June 16, 2026, and served on all relevant parties, including the police. He emphasized that those seeking to take over the councils were not parties to the suit and that no relief was granted in their favor. He urged the police not to enforce the judgment given the pending appeal.
Ogunsola quoted a portion of the court ruling that stated, “No matter the interruptions or interjections in the tenure of the elected public officer after subscription to the oath of office and oath of allegiance, the expiration date of the said tenure remains the same as per the Constitution or the statute.” He argued that this implies the February 2025 local government elections and subsequent swearing-in were null and void, a matter now before the Court of Appeal. The APC leaders called on residents to remain peaceful while warning that any breakdown of law and order resulting from the government’s actions would be its responsibility.